AniEd

Throwing the dog out with the ball

As is its way, and why I avoid it as much as possible, dog-trainer social media continues to promote polarisations. That our field of behaviour, the epitome of nuance, relies on such media for the dissemination of information is boggling.

Yes/no, nevers/always, while staples of social media, don’t really work in discussions of behaviour. The fetch-is-a-force-for-good/evil debate has been resurrected of late with the sharing of recent posts discussing the evils, and polar opposite responses promoting the good…

(I’ve even written about it before: Find It! & Fetch Can Live Together.)

This piece is just under 1500 words but there’s a second part to read too, with lots of ideas for refining fetch games here, and that’s just under 2000 words.
Settle down and dive in!

If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance…

This most latest flurry is inspired by a post that starts with a definitive statement directed toward all dogs, with an ‘always’ stuck in for good measure.

When we see posts like this, it’s a good idea to search for criteria for pseudoscience, for writings that use lots of sciencey sounding terms, with a pinch of accuracy, but a whole lot of bamboozling.

Professing certainty and the committing of many logical fallacies abounds, with claims that this is the only source of truth on this topic to top it off.

A common theme of these sorts of arguments will include many references to neurotransmitters. Individual neurotransmitters are not “good” or “bad” and dogs don’t need -detox from <insert neurochemical here>.
Neurochemicals interact and we can’t look at a dog’s behaviour and diagnose which singular neurotransmitter is in play…that’s not how this works. Neuroscience doesn’t come ‘dumbed-down’, and understanding the complexities of neurotransmitter actions extends far beyond textbook definitions of their functioning.

When arguments include references to fuzzy concepts like “drive”, it’s time for caution. And when terms are used without explanation or context, like “compulsive” or “obsessive”, it demonstrates a lack of understanding of meaning and application.

But those dogs sure look “obsessed“

We have selected for specific canine motor patterns in different dog populations to create breeds and types of dogs that do jobs for us.
Our selection has increased different dog-types’ sensitivity to certain types of environmental stimulation, raising arousal in anticipation of the challenges associated with efficient switching into workmode.

We have shaped dogs’ arousal systems to become activated under various conditions to prepare and support their body during the challenges and exertions of working.

These motor patters are neurologically cheap and highly motivated behaviours. And when dogs are under high stress, or in conditions that allow them to anticipate raised arousal, dogs will show these behaviours that might include predatory sequence responses, certain social behaviours including some play and sexual related behaviours.

According to the Yerkes-Dodson model of arousal, simple behaviours are best suited to high arousal, while complex behaviours are better performed under lower arousal. With rehearsal and rehearsal, behaviours can become more efficiently demonstrated.

Repetitive fetch behaviours appear ritualised, repetitive patterns of behaviours – each round looks the same, and the behaviours are repeated over and over. The Limbic arousal required to hone that focus on the ball and to support the body’s exertion contributes to the apparent intensity and ritualised nature of these responses in many dogs.

But that doesn’t make it “obsessive” or “compulsive” and it certainly doesn’t mean this will become a “compulsive disorder”. Abnormally repetitive behaviours (ARB) fulfill specific criteria and include specific actions that affect quality of life.

The B-word

Balance has become a bit of a dirty word in some dog training sects, just like the F-word…
So let’s balance the issues on fetch…

Dogs need to move

The benefits of regular, exerting exercise are well known and accepted.

Moderate exercise is associated with all sorts of biological effects contributing to elevated mood. Daily, free-choice exercise leads to sustained enhancement of serotonin metabolism, providing immunization to negative stress-effects.
(Dey et al, 1992) (Dey, 1994) (Chaouloff, 1997)

Dogs need physical exercise and adolescents particularly need opportunities to move and hone their developing physicality.
Dogs also need opportunities to move freely within their world, deciding, as much as is safe, how they interact with and explore their environment.

Reduced physical activity contributes to degenerations in physical and behavioural health in dogs.

Lower levels of activity are associated with the development of social fears (Puurunen et al, 2020) (Tiira & lohi, 2015), and non-social fears, such as fears of startling stimuli or loud noises in Dogos in Tami et al, 2008, and aggressive & anxious responding (Lofgren et al, 2014).

(In Puurunen et al, 2020, lower activity levels are defined as less than two hours per day.)

Is excitement good? Is arousal bad?

Humans tend to interpret dogs’ excitement as happiness. And we attempt to ‘tire our dogs out’ with lots of exerting exercise. Most guardians believe that their tired dog is good, and prefer a quiet dog.

Exertion requires increases in arousal and increased cortical inhibition so the dog is responding with arousal-related behaviours more efficiently. This arousal feels good, and dogs will put themselves in these situations to get their fix.

But is that “bad”?

High-octane isn’t without risk…but then, what is?

Repetitive exerting exercise like fetch or high-octane dog-dog interactions may present risks in a couple of ways, for example:

  • reduces sensitivity to pain, discomfort, and social stimuli
    Dogs all wound up may not listen to their body and may not listen to communications from other dogs setting them up to rehearse inappropriate social behaviour.
  • rapid deceleration and sudden turns may be damaging to the musculoskeletal system, particularly in growing dogs (Newton et al, 1997) (Qi & Changlin 2006) (Vasan 1982)
  • increased arousal lowers inhibitions and abilities to respond to ‘trained’ behaviours and guardians may find it more difficult to build responsiveness, possibly resorting to aversive approaches of control
  • lots of running, chasing and biting may not really be play…

Is fetch play?

Play between humans and dogs is wonderfully enjoyable for both species and beneficial to relationship building and resilience (Rooney & Bradshaw, 2002).

While we often refer to fetch games as ‘play’, do they fit the bill? True play involves specific interactions, a dance of communication and conflict resolution. (Burghardt, G. M. (2005). The genesis of animal play: Testing the limits. MIT press.)

If your interactions with your dog can be replaced by a mechanical arm, I dare say we are not looking at true play.

For fetch games to be play, interaction and the ‘dance of play’ must be present. 

Balance & the F-Word

It’s our job to support our dogs in developing behavioural repertoires that allow them to flourish and keep them safe and healthy.

We have selected dogs to show arousal related behaviours efficiently and have now decided that’s not acceptable anymore… because it doesn’t suit us.
What a cruel trick we play on dogs!

Recognise that over half the pet dog population being over-ideal-weight is a significant threat to canine welfare (Suarez et al, 2022). High proportions of dogs are not provided with daily exercise and even fewer with intentional enriching additions to their life and world (PDSA Paw Report).

Rather than punishing guardians’ attempts at providing for their dogs, instead, we should shape their efforts by refining fetch and exerting exercise to more completely support their dogs’ behaviour health…ROLLERCOASTERS!  

Arousal isn’t “bad”, it’s necessary, and is really an incomplete model. Find the balance.

Be a better human guide!

The renouncing of exercise as a primary approach to “behaviour modification” goes back in time in dog-training history. And there continues all sorts of movements to slow dogs down, to compare them to poorly validated ‘observations’ of free-living dogs (which is a false equivalence) and to maintain that sniffing provides just as much exertion as running around.

There is nuance to be found in all of these claims. But we are so resistant to allowing our dogs get excited and frightened of “overarousal”.

If the dog can manage themselves and we can balance their outlets, let them be. If not, get help.

If you’re concerned about a dog’s fetch-related behaviours, be a better teach and establish clearer stimulus control. This provide clarity, and improves predictability and controllability for our dogs.

Provide balance and design appropriate enrichment interventions based on valid evidence, and through listening to the individual dog. Their behaviour is information.

Now it’s time to check out lots of ideas for how you can refine ball-play, make it more like true-play, find the balance and inject some nuance: Fun with Find It! Not Just Fetch.

Dogs are the most gloriously uninhibited creatures.
Don’t suppress or manage this out of them. Be a better human-guide & find the balance!

 “I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren’t certain we knew better…”
~George Bird Evans